World Grain - November 2020 - 14

NEWSREVIEW

Mid-Iowa Cooperative invests in soybean crushing plant
SHELL ROCK, IOWA, US - Mid-Iowa Cooperative, a
farmer-owned cooperative based in east central Iowa, is partnering with Mike Kinley, chief executive officer of Mid-Iowa,
to create Shell Rock Soy Processing (SRSP). Once operational in 2022, SRSP will crush 38.5 million bushels of soybeans
a year, or approximately 110,000 bushels per day.
Groundbreaking on the new soybean crushing plant was
slated for late October. The plant will be built at the Butler
Logistics Park northwest of Shell Rock, pending state and local approvals.
"We're positioned to extract all the value possible from
locally-grown soybeans," Kinley said. "This plant can supply
both food and fuel needs, and it will bring Butler County and
surrounding areas into the center of the global ag economy."
Mid-Iowa said it is seeking additional investors for the $270
million project. For its part, Mid-Iowa said it plans to help
originate soybeans for the plant.
"Not only will SRSP create more than 50 high-quality jobs,
but it allows our area to build on its strong agricultural heritage," said Jeff Kolb, executive director of the Butler-Grundy

Development Alliance. "This will help expand farm income
potential, and it will diversify the economy, which can benefit everyone."
Mid-Iowa said the new soybean crushing plant is expected to produce 847,000 tons of soybean meal per year (2,420
tons per day) for livestock feed markets, 462 million pounds
of crude soybean oil per year (1.32 million pounds per day),
and 77,000 tons of pelleted soybean hulls per year (220 tons
per day). The soymeal and soy hulls (which contain highly
digestible fiber) will be used in livestock feed rations, MidIowa said.
"SRSP will add tremendous value to soybeans in the eastern
part of Iowa," said Mike Knobbe, an SRSP developing partner
with Kinley. "This plant will also benefit the livestock sector
by providing high-quality, 48% protein soymeal."
Additionally, the soybean oil from SRSP will be able to be
used for a variety of applications, including the human food
industry. Approximately 25% of SRSP's products will be used
within Iowa, while 75% will be exported outside of Iowa,
Mid-Iowa said.

AFIA recognizes award recipients during virtual board meeting
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US - The American Feed Industry
Behnke began his career in the industry working as a proAssociation (AFIA) recognized several award recipients during cessing research coordinator at Far Mar Co. in Hutchinson,
its fall board of directors virtual meeting on Oct. 21.
Kansas, US. In August 1977, he began teaching and research
Those recognized included: William Braman, PhD, PAS, duties at KSU. During his career at KSU, Behnke advised
formerly of Chr. Hansen Animal Health and Nutrition, with over 150 undergraduates, 18 doctorate and more than 20 masthe 2020 Distinguished Service Award; Keith Behnke, PhD, ters students in feed science. He has published many scientific
with the AFIA-Kansas State University Feed Manufacturing and press articles, presented papers at more than 120 conferLifetime Achievement Award; and Cassie Jones, PhD, an as- ences and symposia both domestic and abroad, and has visited
sociate professor in animal sciences and industry at Kansas nearly 50 foreign countries in his capacity as a consultant and
State University, as its Member of the Year.
member of the department's International Grains Program.
The AFIA said its Distinguished Service Award is the asBehnke retired from the university in July 2010 but has
sociation's highest honor and typically is given to the elite continued to serve on the feed science advisory team, helpmembers of the US animal food industry who have provided ing to design and construct a new campus feed mill for the
outstanding support to the AFIA and the entire animal food Department of Grain Science and Industry.
industry throughout their careers.
The Member of the Year Award is presented to an AFIA
Braman has been involved in the AFIA and the Institute for member who exhibits outstanding support in achieving the
Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER). He served as a pio- organization's goals and objectives throughout the year.
neer trustee and remained on the IFEEDER board until 2015. With the exception of the 83 members of the Food Safety
During his tenure with IFEEDER, he also was on the budget Modernization Act working group who received the award in
task force and research committee and played a role for sever- 2014, only 40 individuals have been honored prior to this year.
al years in the silent auction held at the AFIA's Purchasing and
Jones serves as the academic liaison to AFIA's Nutrition
Ingredient Suppliers Conferences. He was on the AFIA board Committee. Together with others assigned to her working
of directors from 2011-14, the AFIA's Nutrition Committee group, Jones assembled an outstanding slate of speakers for
for more than a decade, including serving in the officer rota- AFIA's foreign animal disease educational program, held at
tion, and AFIA's Liquid Feed Committee for five years.
the 2020 International Production & Processing Expo. She
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors US animal food worked with the group to brainstorm topics, suggest speakers,
industry retirees, or those who are no longer serving the indus- share contact information and presented the swine biosecurity
try or allied industries, who have made a significant contribu- session. With her academic experience in animal sciences, nution to the animal food manufacturing business in the United trition, foreign animal disease and feed manufacturing techStates throughout their careers. KSU first presented the award nology, Jones is a trusted resource to the feed industry and the
in 1995 and only 20 individuals have received the award.
AFIA, the AFIA said.
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World Grain - November 2020

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